Central team begins Andhra tour to assess flood damage

An eight-member Central team today began a tour of the flood-hit districts of Andhra Pradesh to assess the extent of damage.

An eight-member Central team on Monday began a tour of the flood-hit districts of Andhra Pradesh to assess the extent of damage.

The team, led by Joint Secretary (Home Affairs) D Deepti Vilas, reached Hyderabad this morning and held a meeting with top officials of the state administration to obtain basic details of the devastation caused by the unprecedented floods in rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra, official sources said in Hyderabad.

The Central team saw a pictorial exhibition of the destruction, particularly in Kurnool and Mahbubnagar districts and later left for these districts for a spot assessment of the damage, they said.

The Andhra Pradesh government has sought financial assistance of Rs 21,356.72 crore from the Central government towards drought and flood relief and rehabilitation in the state.

Of the total assistance sought, Rs 11,609.25 crore was towards flood relief and restoration while Rs 9,747.47 crore was towards drought relief.

The state so far received Rs 418 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund and another Rs 1000 crore from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, officials said.